Vehicle-tire.



A. H. KELLER.

VEHICLE TIRE.

APPLICATIVGM FILED FEB. 25. 1918.

1 85, 73 Patented Nov. 26,1918.

. ,side views of the expansion accesses H. KELLER, or PHILADELPHIA, rnnnsynveme.

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act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a tire for vehicles having sufficient elasticity and resiliency to permit its use on power driven'pleasure vehicles in place of the ordinary pneumatic tire and having also sufiieient strength and durability to make them .suitable for use on heavier vehicles, such as automobile trucks. Another object is to perms, the application of the invention to a I ggstandard rim and standard rubber-and-fabric tire or shoe, the invention residing in the expansible and elastic structure which is in serted within the shoe in place of the usual pneumatic inner tube and in the means for holding said structure in expanded position. ,A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in I which-- Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of atire, embodying my invention, partly brok e n away. I I i Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same. ,FigsEand 4 are respectively plan and lug. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail perspective views pf the short and long links respectively. a represents a standard wooden felly; b a standard steel rim provided with inturned edges adapted to receive the feet of a stand- 4o ard fiexisle-and elastic shoe 0.

- A series of wire rings extends circumferentially within the shoe adjacent its inner wall. Two of these rings (l are located between the feet of the shoe and in actual use press against the same. The other rings 6 are located at varying distances around the circumference of the shoe. Preferably, the rings e are disposed approximately about that semi-circumference of the cross-section ofthe shoe adjacent its tread, the distance between adjacent rings 6 being about equal and the distance between adjacent rings i and a being greater than the distance between adjacent rings e. This relative spac- I as ing, however, is not essential.v Each ring Specification of Letters Patent.

' the ordinary Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

Application filed February 25, 1918. Serial No. 218,921.

consists of a single wire bent into circular shape, the abutting or approximating end; being secured together by. a connecting sleeve f. The rings at and emay each be sheathed in a rubber or other covering 121-. 7

Connecting the circumferential rings are a number of expanders each comprising a set of .links 9. The links of each expander are arranged in the same cross-sectional plane. Each of the links, except the two longer end links, is provided, along its convexly curved longitudinal edge,.\vith a ridge link, merging into the body of the link adj acent its concaved edge. At the end of each link except at one end of each longer link, and along the margin of the eye, is a concavity adapted to fit and receive the adjacent eye of the adjacent link. Holding these links from lateral slippage are collars h se cured to the rings.

Extending loosely through the felly a and rim 6 are the shanks of a number of ex pansion lugs. There are as many of these 4 expansion lugs as there are expanders, each expansion lug being located about midway between adjacent expanders. The inner end of each expansion lug, where it extends be tween the two rings d, is provided with an oval-shaped cam periphery i and with a head jof elongated shape whose longer'extension is in the direction of the greater diameter of the adjacent camshaped portion 2" of the shank and at its opposite ends, overhangs the cam portion 2', so that, when it is in operative position, as shown in Fig. 2, it extends over the rings d. The end of the exthis ridge, at opposite end portions of the pansion lug projecting inside the'wooden telly is screw-threaded to receive a nut e.

The tire is applied to the wooden felly in way, the rings, however, being more Or less loose within the tire. The expansion lug at this time is turned about ninety degrees from the position shown in Fig. 2, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the longer diameters of the head j and of the cam periphery z of each expander extend parallel with the longitudinal direction of extension of the rim, shoe and wires: thus permitting the two rings at to approach relatively closely andthereby allowing the expanders to contract. By turning the expansion lugs into the posit-ion hown in Fig. 2, the rings (Z are forced bv the cam surfaces i of the away from each other, thereby i re'. expanders against the inner wall shoe, the heads j of the expansion in ing into position to confine the against the feet of the shoe 0.

t is obvious that the wire rings d, e afford a flexible and elastic internal 'suppo shoe which yieldingly resists the elite nal pressure against the tread of the tire when the vehicle is in motion, allowing the tire to flatten to about the same extent as occurs when the shoe is provided with an inflated tube.

Havin now fully described my inven what I o aim and protect by Letters Fa; is: i

1. A. vehicle tire comprisinga shoe of ble, and elastic material, ilexible rings ere tendin circumierentially within. the shoe, cxpanoers consisting of links connecting adjacent rings, and means holding said .iinlts against the inner wall of the shoe.

2. A vehicle tire comprising a shoe ozt ble and elastic material, flexible rings or;- tendin circumferentiall within the shoe, eXpan ers consisting of links connecting adjacent rings, and means, engaging a plural ity of said wires, adapted to force the ponders outwardly against the inner wall of the shoe,

3. A vehicle tire comprising a shoe oi flexibio and elastic material, a number of flexible rings extending circumferentially within the shoe, two-of said rings extending adjacent to the point of attachment of the shoe to the rim, links connecting adjacent rings, means to force the two last named away from each other against the pom of the shoe adjacent thereto, thereby expand ing the links and. rings. I

l. A vehicle tire comprising a shoe ble and elastic material. a number of ll ole rings extending circuintemntially within the shoe, expanders each consisting of a series of links connecting adjacent rings, er;- pansion devices located along the circumference of the tire between adjacent expanders and operable to move a plurality of in a direction adapted to force the expanders against the inner wall of the shoe.

.5. vehicle tire comprising a shoe of flexihie and elastic material, a number of flexible rings extending circumferentially within the shoe, two of said rings extending adjacent to the point of attachment of the shoe to the rim, links connecting adjacent rings, and expansion lugs turnableiin said rim, each lug having a cam periphery adapted, when the log is turned, to spread the two last named rings farther apart and thereby force the links and rings outwardly.

c. A vehicle tire comprising a shoe of flexible and elastic material, a number offlexible rings extending circnmferentially Within the shoe, two of said rings extendng adjacent to the point of attachment of the shoe to the rim, l1 pension lugs engagiiw said rim and-having heads adapted to confine the two last named rings against the portions of the shoe adjacent thereto.

A vehicle tire comprising a shoe of flexihis and elastic material, a number of flexible rings extending circumferentiall within the shoe, two of said rings extending adjacent to the point of attachment of the shoeto the, rim, links connecting adjacent rings, and expansion lugs each comprising a shank extending radially through the rim and an elongated head within the shoe, the shank of the lug adjacent the head having a, variable diameter to cause the shank, to force the two last named rings away from each other in opposite directions, the ends of the head overhanging the art of the shank of greater diameter and aiiapted to confine the two last named rings against the shoe when the rings ,are thus spread apart, thereby expanding all the links against the inner w ill of the shoe and holding them in fielding contact therewith. 4

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Pa, on this 21st day of February, 1918.

aneos'rns H. KELLER.

when turned,

-he connecting adjacent rings, and ex- 

